Hey everyone, it’s Shaun here!
Today, I want to talk about something most people don’t even think about, food combinations. We all know that eating healthy is key to feeling great, but did you know that some foods just don’t play well together? Yep, even healthy foods! One of the most surprising ones? Cucumbers!
As refreshing as cucumbers are, they don’t mix well with certain other foods, like carrots and bananas, and there’s some real science behind why. In this post, I’m going to break it all down for you so you can make better food choices that support digestion, energy levels, and overall health.
1. Why You Shouldn’t Eat Cucumber with Carrots
Cucumbers and carrots seem like the perfect salad duo, right? Well, not exactly.
Both cucumbers and carrots contain unique digestive enzymes, but here’s the issue: cucumber contains an enzyme called ascorbinase, which destroys vitamin C in other foods. Carrots are packed with vitamin C, so when you eat them together, the cucumber actually reduces the amount of vitamin C you’re getting from the carrots.
Now, this doesn’t mean that if you eat them together, you’ll suddenly become vitamin C deficient. But over time, if you’re pairing them regularly, you might not be getting as much of this crucial vitamin as you think. And considering how important vitamin C is for immunity, skin health, and collagen production, it’s something to keep in mind!
👉 Better Alternative? If you love your carrot-cucumber combo, try adding a squeeze of lemon juice. The acidity helps neutralize the ascorbinase enzyme so you can still get your vitamin C boost!
2. Why You Shouldn’t Eat Cucumber with Bananas
Bananas and cucumbers might not be a combo you eat often, but if you’re throwing both into a smoothie, you might want to rethink it.
Bananas are rich in potassium and require a longer digestion time. Cucumbers, on the other hand, are mostly water and digest much faster. When you eat them together, it can cause bloating, stomach discomfort, and even fermentation in your gut.
The issue comes down to digestion speed. When a food that digests quickly (like cucumber) is eaten with a food that digests slowly (like banana), it can create gas, bloating, and discomfort because the fast-digesting food gets “stuck” behind the slower-digesting one.
Better Alternative? If you love both, eat them separately, maybe have bananas in the morning and cucumbers in your salad later in the day.
3. Other Foods You Shouldn’t Pair with Cucumbers
Besides carrots and bananas, there are a few other food combos to be aware of:
🥒 + Tomatoes
This might shock you because cucumber and tomato salads are a classic! But here’s the issue—cucumbers and tomatoes have different digestion speeds. Tomatoes are acidic, while cucumbers are alkaline. This contrast can cause indigestion and bloating for some people.
* Better Alternative? If you love them together, add some herbs like basil or mint to help digestion.
🥒 + Dairy (Milk or Yogurt)
Ever had a cucumber raita or a tzatziki sauce and felt weird after? Cucumbers and dairy don’t always sit well together because cucumbers cool the body, while dairy is considered heavier and takes longer to digest. This combination may cause toxins to form in the gut, leading to gas or bloating.
* Better Alternative? If you’re making a yogurt-based dip, try adding cumin or black pepper to aid digestion.
🥒 + Spicy Foods
Cucumber is naturally cooling, but if you eat it alongside spicy foods, it may slow down digestion too much. Your stomach needs heat to digest spicy foods properly, and cucumber can weaken this process, potentially leading to sluggish digestion.
*Better Alternative? If you’re eating something spicy, save the cucumber for later!
So, What’s the Best Way to Eat Cucumbers?
Now that you know what not to mix cucumbers with, here’s how to enjoy them the right way:
✅ Pair them with leafy greens like spinach, kale, or lettuce
✅ Enjoy them with herbs like mint, cilantro, or basil
✅ Eat them with healthy fats like avocado or olive oil
✅ Have them with fermented foods like sauerkraut for better digestion
Final Thoughts
Food combining isn’t about strict rules, it’s about understanding how different foods interact in your body. If you’ve been dealing with bloating, sluggish digestion, or just want to optimize your nutrition, making small changes like avoiding cucumber with carrots, bananas, or tomatoes can make a real difference!
So next time you’re making a smoothie, salad, or snack, keep these tips in mind. Your gut will thank you!
Have you ever noticed any digestive issues with certain food combos? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your experiences!
Until next time,
Shaun